Safety Shower Inspection Requirements

Many industry settings require an emergency eyewash station. These units, often plumbed into the standard water supply and will sometimes include an emergency shower in the same unit. Emergency eyewash/shower units should not have a drain installed. EPA policy forbids the flushing of contaminants into an open drain line. These stations require inspection and verification of their operation on a regular basis.

• Inspect each eyewash station weekly, and document each inspection. The station must be free of obstacles and easily accessible to those with limited vision due to an emergency situation.

• Cover the water supply heads with protective caps to prevent dirt of debris from entering the system. The controls must be easy to see, reach and activate. A single control should turn on the water supply, and the water pressure should remove the protective caps.

• Allow the water to run for a period of time---up to two minutes. The water should run clear and not tepid. If the water does not run clear, mark the system for service and repairs as quickly as possible.

• The water streams from each nozzle must be of equal strength and extend up to an equal height. The eyewash must have the capability of providing a steady flow of water for a minimum of 15 minutes. The stream from each nozzle should be a uniform spray and not a single hard stream of water.